Government urged to halt use of trucks for cargo transport

Busia Governor Sospeter Ojaamong has urged the National government to look for alternative ways of transporting cargo instead of the long distance trucks.
Speaking to the press in Bunyala Sub County on Saturday, Ojaamong warned that use of transit trucks posed great danger to the local residents who are at risk of contracting the coronavirus because of huge snarl-ups being witnessed at both Busia and Malaba borders.
“We urge the National government to halt transit of cargo via roads just the same way air travel was restricted as a stop-gap measure to mitigate the spread of COVID 19 which continues to wreak havoc globally,” he said.
He recommended that all transit cargo should be re-routed to the old railway line or government to use cargo planes adding that fuel from the Port of Mombasa to Kampala and other great lakes region can be transported through the port of Kisumu via railway to Uganda and Tanzania respectively.
The governor noted that residents of Bunyala had shortage of sanitation facilities occasioned by flooding in the area.
Busia County Commissioner Joseph Kanyiri said the National government will soon avail relief food to residents of Samia, Bunyala, Teso North and Teso South who have been affected by floods.
Kanyiri disclosed that affected families in Bunyala will receive 500 bags of rice among other food items directing the committees in charge of distribution to ensure that only deserving cases receive the donation.
He noted with concern that a number of the residents were not adhering to the Ministry of Health directives on hand washing and wearing of masks despite the continuous efforts by the government to sensitise them.
The National Irrigation Authority donated five 10, 000-litre capacity tanks that will be used to store clean drinking water at various points to serve the flood victims.
More than 1,000 families have been affected in Busagwa, Rukala and Ndekwe villages in Bunyala South Ward, Bunyala Sub County